Luminous pedestrian control sign



Jan. 21, 1941. s w vn- 2,229,611

LuMINoUs PEDESTRIAN CONTROL SIGN Filed March 10. 1939 3 m S/MO/v WlzwTAN- 4 fla /M Patented Jan. 21, 1941 2,229,611 LUMINOUS PEDESTBIANCONTROL SIGN Simon W. Levitan, Washington, D. 0.

Application March 10,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a luminous indicating sign, and moreparticularly to a luminescent gaseous sign designed for the control ofpedestrian trafli-c.

Increasing traffic fatalities and injuries have necessitated the takingof precautionary measures having for their aim the reduction of trafficaccidents. Safety campaigns to educate both the driving public as wellas the pedestrians to lo the dangers attendant present traiiicconditions are general. Furthermore, proposals have been made topromulgate regulations governing the conduct of pedestrians,particularly at crosswalks or street intersections, these regulations tobe enforceable by force of law. It is the object of the presentinvention to provide an indicating sign which furthers the aimsmentioned generally above and which present material advanbases topedestrians, drivers, law-enforcing 0th- 2 cers and the public at large.

The indicating sign presented herein has for its object the control ofpedestrians at street intersections which will indicate at a glance toboth drivers and pedestrians a signal condition for the latter to walkor to desist from walking across the intersection.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a luminous sign ofthe conducting gaseous type which is rugged and not costly inconstruction and economical in operation and maintenance.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a luminous gaseoussign which provides a clearly visible signal for both signallingconditions, namely, the signal for the pedestrians to proceed as well asthe signal admonishing or ordering the pedestrians not to proceed acrossthe street.

Other objects and purposes will appear from the more detaileddescription of the invention following hereinafter, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a front elevation of the sign in accordance with the presentinvention, with only 45 the right portion being luminous;

Eigure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 2- -2 0! Figure1;

Figure 3 is a right end view of the sign; and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along 50 line 4-4 of Figure1.

The indicating sign is formed of a continuous tube 2 delineating thewords Don't walk which is formed in two portions 3 and l, and which ismounted in a conventional manner in front of II the metallic casing I.The portion I outlines the 1939, Serial No. 261,054

word Don't and the portion 4 outlines the word Walk. Electrode terminal5 is disposed at the beginning of the portion 3, and the electrodeterminal 6 is disposed at the end of the portion 4.

An additional electrode terminal I is disposed between the words Dontand Walk. The continuous formation of the tube presents a markedsimplification in manufacture resulting in economy in production.

The-tube 2 is evacuated and filled with ,a suitable gas such as neon,

helium, argon, krypton,

etc, to which may be added coloring agents such as mercury, if desired.The sign may be formed of conventional tubing or of fluorescent glass.

Any expedients known in the art of luminescent gaseous signs may beadopted in the production of a sign in accordance tion.

Transformers l0 and with the present inven- H are disposed within thecasing l for the purpose of energizing selectively the complete sign, orelse only the concluding part 4 thereof.

The secondary winding of transformer I0 is connected to the electrodeterminals 5 and 6 and serves to render luminous the complete sign Dontwalk. The secondary winding of transformer H is connected to theelectrode terminals I and 6 and serves to render luminous only portion 4of the sign, Walk. Suitable switching mechanisms may be incorporated inthe primary circuits of the transformers l0 and H to periodicallyenergize the indications Don't walk and Walk, utilizing time clocks, re-

lays, and like devices,

well known in the art.

The casing may be .formed witha shade la in order that the sign may dayas well as by, night.

be clearly visible by The illumination of the alternate signalindications produces an eye-arresting effect upon the ducive to acompliance pedestrians and is conwith the signals as they areattractively and positively indicated in accordance with the presentinvention.

The sign in accordan vention presents another virtue of the continuousdelineates both sign designations.

of the tube operates to sign designation that false signals with thepresent indistinct advantage by tube construction which A breakageeliminate the complete rise to no possibility sign is broken, whichmight be the case if the sign were composed of two separate tubeportions.

While I have described my invention as embodied in concrete form and asoperating in specific manner for purposes or illustration, should beunderstood th a it at I do not limit my invention thereto, since variousmodifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which isset forth in the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. A luminous pedestrian control sign formed in a substantiallyhorizontal line of a continuous gaseous tube formed of two portions andconstituting in its totality a negative admonition topedestrians againstproceeding across a street with the concluding portion of the signconstituting a positive designation for pedestrians to proceed acrossthe street, electrode terminals at the beginning and the end of the tubeand an additional electrode terminal at an intermediate point of thetube at the beginning of the concluding portion thereof, and means forselectively impressing an energizing potential between saidfirst-mentioned electrode terminals for rendering luminous the completelength of the gaseous tube and an energizing potential between saidadditional electrode terminal and the electrode terminal at the end ofthe tube for rendering luminous only the concluding portion of the tube.

2. A luminous indicating sign formed of a continuous gaseous tubedelineating words signifying Dont walk in a substantially horizontalline, electrode terminalsat the beginning and the end of the gaseoustube, an additional electrode terminal between the words cooperatingwith the electrode at the end of the tube, and energizing meansconnected to said electrode terminals whereby the sign may selectivelyrender luminous the designations signifying Dont walk and Walk.

3. A luminous pedestrian control indicating sign formed of a continuousgaseous tube delineating the words Don't walk in a substantiallyhorizontal line, electrode terminals at the beginning and the end of thegaseous tube and an addition-al electrode terminal at an intermediatepoint or the tube ,between the words, and means for selectivelyimpressing an energizing potential between said first-mentionedelectrode terminals to illuminate the complete length of the tube todesignate a Don't walk signal and an energizing potential between saidadditional electrode terminal and end electrode terminal to designate aWalk signal.

SDMON W. LEVITAN.

